Phase 4: Prototyping/Experimentation2 Prototyping is getting your ideas out of your head and into the physical world. A prototype can be anything that takes physical form – be it a wall of post-it notes, a role-playing activity, an object, a digital interface, a presentation, or even a storyboard. Experimentation means making ideas tangible, learning while building them and sharing them with other people. Early prototypes should be rough and rapid to allow the team to receive direct feedback and learn how to further improve and refine an idea.
4-1 Build Prototypes
Time to build. Teams should start building their prototypes without worrying about getting it right the first time. Prototypes will change significantly over time. Teams can build using a sketch, a storyboard, a model, diagram, a wall of post-notes, a mock-up, a presentation, a movie, an ad or whatever seems appropriate for their idea. Team should build their prototypes with the user in mind, trying to let the user “experience” their idea. Teams should look for feedback by sharing their prototypes.
4-2 Get Feedback
Once the teams have finished their first prototypes, they will need to collect feedback to help them improve their design. There are several ways that teams can receive feedback from their peers. They can pitch their prototypes to the group and solicit feedback or they can get feedback in a more formal way. However they get their feedback, they will be taking those ideas and suggestions back to integrate into their next prototype iteration.
Once teams have the feedback from their peers, they will need space and time to discuss the feedback they received. It is important that teams get to have these conversations while the feedback is fresh in their minds. Teams will discuss the feedback and decide what and how to incorporate them into their designs. Teams might want to consider:
What did particpants value the most?
What got them excited?
What convinced them about the idea?
What parts did they want to change?
What did not work?
What needs further investigation?
Once teams know how to improve their prototype, they incorporate those ideas. Most concepts cannot be fully realized in just one prototype. Teams might make two or three before they feel it encapsulates their ideas.
Prototyping is getting your ideas out of your head and into the physical world. A prototype can be anything that takes physical form – be it a wall of post-it notes, a role-playing activity, an object, a digital interface, a presentation, or even a storyboard. Experimentation means making ideas tangible, learning while building them and sharing them with other people. Early prototypes should be rough and rapid to allow the team to receive direct feedback and learn how to further improve and refine an idea.
4-1 Build Prototypes
Time to build. Teams should start building their prototypes without worrying about getting it right the first time. Prototypes will change significantly over time. Teams can build using a sketch, a storyboard, a model, diagram, a wall of post-notes, a mock-up, a presentation, a movie, an ad or whatever seems appropriate for their idea. Team should build their prototypes with the user in mind, trying to let the user “experience” their idea. Teams should look for feedback by sharing their prototypes.
4-2 Get Feedback
Once the teams have finished their first prototypes, they will need to collect feedback to help them improve their design. There are several ways that teams can receive feedback from their peers. They can pitch their prototypes to the group and solicit feedback or they can get feedback in a more formal way. However they get their feedback, they will be taking those ideas and suggestions back to integrate into their next prototype iteration.
Once teams have the feedback from their peers, they will need space and time to discuss the feedback they received. It is important that teams get to have these conversations while the feedback is fresh in their minds. Teams will discuss the feedback and decide what and how to incorporate them into their designs. Teams might want to consider:
- What did particpants value the most?
- What got them excited?
- What convinced them about the idea?
- What parts did they want to change?
- What did not work?
- What needs further investigation?
Once teams know how to improve their prototype, they incorporate those ideas. Most concepts cannot be fully realized in just one prototype. Teams might make two or three before they feel it encapsulates their ideas.Created and maintained by Steven Will